Browsing by Author "Ferreira, Isabel M.P.L.V.O."
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- An eco-friendly approach for analysing sugars, minerals, and colour in brown sugar using digital image processing and machine learningPublication . Alves, Vandressa; Santos, Jeferson M. dos; Viegas, Olga; Pinto, Edgar; Ferreira, Isabel M.P.L.V.O.; Lima, Vanderlei Aparecido; Felsner, Maria L.Brown sugar is a natural sweetener obtained by thermal processing, with interesting nutritional characteristics. However, it has significant sensory variability, which directly affects product quality and consumer choice. Therefore, developing rapid methods for its quality control is desirable. This work proposes a fast, environmentally friendly, and accurate method for the simultaneous analysis of sucrose, reducing sugars, minerals and ICUMSA colour in brown sugar, using an innovative strategy that combines digital image processing acquired by smartphone cell with machine learning. Data extracted from the digital images, as well as experimentally determined contents of the physicochemical characteristics and elemental profile were the variables adopted for building predictive regression models by applying the kNN algorithm. The models achieved the highest predictive capacity for the Ca, ICUMSA colour, Fe and Zn, with coefficients of determination (R2) ≥ 92.33 %. Lower R2 values were observed for sucrose (81.16 %), reducing sugars (85.67 %), Mn (83.36 %) and Mg (86.97 %). Low data dispersion was found for all the predictive models generated (RMSE < 0.235). The AGREE Metric assessed the green profile and determined that the proposed approach is superior in relation to conventional methods because it avoids the use of solvents and toxic reagents, consumes minimal energy, produces no toxic waste, and is safer for analysts. The combination of digital image processing (DIP) and the kNN algorithm provides a fast, non-invasive and sustainable analytical approach. It streamlines and improves quality control of brown sugar, enabling the production of sweeteners that meet consumer demands and industry standards.
- Bioaccessibility and intestinal uptake of minerals from different types of home-cooked and ready-to-eat beansPublication . Faria, Miguel A.; Araújo, Alfredo; Pinto, Edgar; Oliveira, César; Oliva-Teles, MT; Almeida, Agostinho; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Ferreira, Isabel M.P.L.V.O.Limited information exists on the bioaccessibility and intestinal uptake of essential minerals from different types of beans cooked through different cooking methods. This study aimed to estimate the in vitro bioaccessibility and intestinal uptake of the essential minerals K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and Mo from four different types of beans (kidney, black, white and cowpea) cooked under different conditions (home-cooked and industrially processed canned product). Results showed that the bioaccessibility and uptake of most essential minerals is higher in canned beans. Mn was the mineral that presented the highest bioaccessibility (43–63%), and Mo had the lowest (3–36%). The highest uptake was observed for Mg (59.9%), while the lowest was found for Fe (10.5%). Regarding the type of beans, white beans presented the highest bioaccessibility and uptake for all the analyzed essential minerals and thus its consumption is preferable from a nutritional point of view.
- Cation transporters/channels in plants: Tools for nutrient biofortificationPublication . Pinto, Edgar; Ferreira, Isabel M.P.L.V.O.Cation transporters/channels are key players in a wide range of physiological functions in plants, including cell signaling, osmoregulation, plant nutrition and metal tolerance. The recent identification of genes encoding some of these transport systems has allowed new studies toward further understanding of their integrated roles in plant. This review summarizes recent discoveries regarding the function and regulation of the multiple systems involved in cation transport in plant cells. The role of membrane transport in the uptake, distribution and accumulation of cations in plant tissues, cell types and subcellular compartments is described. We also discuss how the knowledge of inter- and intra-species variation in cation uptake, transport and accumulation as well as the molecular mechanisms responsible for these processes can be used to increase nutrient phytoavailability and nutrients accumulation in the edible tissues of plants. The main trends for future research in the field of biofortification are proposed.
- Chayote (Sechium edule): A review of nutritional composition, bioactivities and potential applicationsPublication . Vieira, Elsa F.; Pinho, Olívia; Ferreira, Isabel M.P.L.V.O.; Delerue-Matos, CristinaChayote (Sechium edule) has gained widespread consuming acceptance and recognized by its nutritional and bio-functional properties. The present review surveys and describes the current findings about the nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of chayote and identifies opportunities for further research. It also discusses chayote's versatile utility in nutrition, as a functional ingredient in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in nanotechnology and biotechnological processes. It was concluded that although the pharmacological properties of chayote are currently well-established, only a few reports have been conducted on the isolation and identification of individual chemical constituents, and similarly, only a few in vivo studies have been conducted to assess their biological efficacy. In addition, the valorisation of the underutilized chayote by-products can be an important aspect in waste management from both economic and environmental standpoints. Thus, the recovery and utilization of valuable compounds from chayote is an important challenge for scientists.
- Digital image processing combined with machine learning: A new strategy for brown sugar classificationPublication . Alves, Vandressa; Santos, Jeferson M. dos; Pinto, Edgar; Ferreira, Isabel M.P.L.V.O.; Lima, Vanderlei Aparecido; Felsner, Maria L.The coloring of foods is one of the main attributes of importance for consumers and it can be decisive for a consumer to accept or reject the product. Models that explore brown sugar coloring are scarce in scientific research. So, a new strategy for brown sugar classification through the combination of digital image processing, machine learning and physicochemical composition data was proposed. RGB channel intensities and color histogram data, obtained from digital image processing, in combination with some physicochemical characteristics (sucrose, Ca, Fe, ICUMSA color and total phenolic compounds (TPC)) were used as training and external validation datasets in the creation of classification models by RF algorithm. Excellent performance of classification models was observed by high overall accuracy rates for ICUMSA color (92.6 %), Ca and sucrose (100 %), Fe (94.9 %), and TPC (97.6 %). Thus, classifying brown sugar based on its color can be a valuable strategy for the beverage and food industries, allowing for greater diversification and meeting consumer needs while enhancing the quality and consistency of products.
- Mobility of Cd and Pb in a groundwater-soil-plant system: a risk assessmentPublication . Pinto, Edgar; Almeida, Agostinho; Ferreira, Isabel M.P.L.V.O.Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are ubiquitous elements and are among the most dangerous metals in the environment. Long-term human exposure is an important public health problem and is associated with kidney failure, neurotoxicity and several types of cancer. The general population is exposed to these metals from several sources, namely food, air and water. Food is the dominant source of exposure to Cd and Pb. Plants can uptake Cd and Pb present in the soil. The mobile fraction of Cd and Pb in soil is very low compared to other elements. Various soil extraction procedures were developed for the determination of plant-available, mobile and potentially mobile pools of trace elements in soils. These procedures offer a reliable approach to investigate possible relationships between water, soil and plants.
- Salt replacement by Salicornia ramosissima to reduce biogenic amines formation in fishPublication . Ramos, Ana Gabriela; Viegas, Olga; Pinto, Edgar; Ferreira, Isabel M.P.L.V.O.Salicornia ramosissima is frequently used as a salt replacer due to its high salt content. Its richness in phenolics, organic acids, minerals, and fiber make it an interesting natural preservative. The impact on biogenic amines formation from replace salt by seasoning fish products with salicornia has not been explored. Biogenic amines (BA), including histamine (HIM), cadaverine (CAD), putrescine (PUT), 2-phenylethylamine (2-FEN), tryptamine (TRI) and tyramine (TIR) are a group of undesirable compounds that can arise in foods, such as fish during its shelflife. Their consumption by susceptible individuals can lead to poisoning, especially histamine [1]. Therefore, reduction of their formation during shelf-life of fish products is of major relevance. The objective of this work was to explore the possibility of using Salicornia ramosissima in the formulation of fish hamburgers (salmon and hake) to replace salt seasoning (1%) and protect against biogenic amines formation. Biogenic amines were analysed by reverse phase HPLC with fluorescence detector, after acid extraction and derivatization with dansyl chloride. On the day of fish acquisition (day 0), salmon presented 5.0, 1.7 and 1.2 mg/kg of HIM, PUT and CAD, respectively and hake presented 8.3, 0.6 and 0.3 mg/kg of HIM, PUT and CAD, respectively. In both fishes tryptamine was detected but not quantified (< 0.487 mg/kg) and 2-FEN and TIR were not detected. On day 2, a considerable increase of all BA was observed in salmon burgers (∑BA control salmon = 257 mg/kg). The salicornia seasoning led to a mild inhibition of BA formation in those hamburgers, without statistical significance (∑BA 226 mg/kg). On days 5 and 8, a considerable increase in BA continued to be observed. However in hake, on day 2, the increase in BA was negligible (∑BA control: 12.6 mg/kg), and no significant effects could be observed by the addition of salicornia (7.9 mg/kg). However, on day 5 (∑BA control = 56.0 mg/kg), a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of the total BA content was observed in the hamburgers seasoned with salicornia (∑BA = 42.6 mg/kg), especially by inhibition of cadaverine formation (38.2 mg/kg vs 18.0 mg/kg). By day 8, the ∑BA of the control burgers increased to 117 mg/kg, whereas in burgers with salicornia BA content was similar to that observed on day 5 (42.9 mg/kg). Salicornia salt was not able to significantly prevent BA formation in salmon samples. Contrary to hake burgers, in which a strong inhibition of total BA was observed on days 5 (~ 50%) and 8 (~ 80%), this effect being greater than that observed by the addition of salt (~ 20% on day 8), and especially observed in cadaverine.
- A survey of thorium (Th) and uranium (U) in the groundwater of NW PortugalPublication . Pinto, Edgar; Almeida, Agostinho; Ferreira, Isabel M.P.L.V.O.Thorium (Th) and uranium (U) are both radioactive and chemical toxins and the role that radiation vs chemical effects play in its toxicology remains mysterious. In the last years, a great interest on the environmental toxicity of Th and U has been raised by two recent developments: (i) the global drive toward low-carbon energy which enhances the interest towards nuclear power, and (ii) its growing use as depleted uranium (DU) in military munitions. A third important factor from an exposure perspective, and maybe the one receiving the least attention, is the increasing worldwide consumption of groundwater. Recent evidence points to the fact that groundwater in many parts of the world is contaminated with Th and U from natural and industrial sources. Exposure to Th and U from drinking water is growing rapidly as more people increasingly rely on groundwater as their primary source of water.